Singer Chris Brown pleads guilty to affray over London nightclub attack

Singer Chris Brown has pleaded guilty to affray over a confrontation at a London nightclub in which a man was hit over the head with a bottle.

The US musician faced an allegation he attacked a former friend at the Tape club in Mayfair in 2023.

At Southwark Crown Court on Friday, the R&B singer admitted an additional charge of affray.

The 37-year-old denied charges of grievous bodily harm and actual bodily harm against Abraham Diaw. Prosecutors have now dropped the assault charges.

The fight was caught on a surveillance camera in front of the club, prosecutors said.

Brown struck his victim twice over the head with a glass bottle before his vocal coach, Omololu Akinlolu, punched the man in the head, the court heard.

The victim was also kicked while sitting defenceless on the floor, the Crown Prosecution Service (CPS) added.

He was later taken to St Mary's Hospital with head and knee injuries.

Both Brown and Akinlolu were bailed to be sentenced on October 26 at Southwark Crown Court.

Brown was permitted to leave the UK but must return on October 25 as part of his bail conditions.

He arrived at court wearing a tan suit, gold-rimmed sunglasses, a St Louis Cardinals baseball hat, and flanked by security guards.

Brown waved to fans who were playing his music and shouting his name, with one saying "I love you Chris".

He was previously ordered to pay a £5 million security fee as part of his bail conditions and allowed to go on a world tour, as long as he surrendered his passport on arrival in each country.

Detective Constable Zara Ripamonti, from the Metropolitan Police Service, said: "This was a disgraceful, unprovoked assault that put a man in hospital.

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"There is no place for serious violence like this in London and I'm pleased these men accepted what they did wasn't just completely unacceptable - but criminal.

"This has been a long investigation and we've worked with police colleagues in the UK to bring these two men to justice."

Brown initially became famous as a teenager in 2005 and has won two Grammys for best R&B album, one for F.A.M.E. in 2011 and another for 11:11 (Deluxe) earlier this year.

He pleaded guilty in 2009 to beating his ex-girlfriend, pop star Rihanna.

He admitted one count of felony assault relating to an incident that occurred hours before they were due to perform at the Grammy Awards.

(c) Sky News 2026: Singer Chris Brown pleads guilty to affray over London nightclub attack